Woodburn is a small town of approximately 25,000 in the Willamette Valley between Portland and Salem, Oregon, and is the home of a branch of Salem-based Chemeketa Community College. In the late 1990s a 55+ residential community—Woodburn Estates—was built in the town, and the college’s president was determined to draw these older residents into its learning community. Since many of the Estates residents were new to the area they expressed interest in learning more about the history of the Willamette Valley, and in the summer of 1999 the community college began offering day trips to local historical sites. As people participating in these trips forged bonds of friendship, they decided that classes would also be enjoyable and enriching, and Beverlee Koutny, a teacher by training, a native of the area, and a passionate local historian, became involved. With about 30 paid members each semester, the Chemeketa Center for Learning in Retirement is a small but vibrant organization, offering a handful of classes each semester and continuing with the summer field trips where the organization began 17 years ago. Members pay $35 a year, and summer trips are open to everyone.

Announcements

Aging In America Conference

From the American Society on Aging:

Join American Society on Aging in New Orleans next April to learn best practices and gain insights from leaders in the field about the current state of aging in America. AiA19 is the place to be for knowledge, inspiration and networking with others who are dedicated to improving the lives of older adults.

The 2019 conference will have a strong focus on critical and emergent topics facing the field of aging, as well as cutting-edge and responsive programmatic, research, policy and advocacy efforts. Interest areas include: emergency/disaster readiness, housing and transportation access, caregiving, substance use/opioid crisis, multiple aspects of dementia, technology and aging, intergenerational models, population health, shifting policy and legislative issues affecting older adults, and much more. Learn about innovative policies, programs, practices, models and businesses that you can use in your work with older adults. View and download the AiA19 Conference Announcement